how do these people sound (possible home for the pair)

[5cats1bun]

So the question always comes up so I will just say I took them in as rescues  got them spayed and neutered and am looking to find them they’re forever homes now. (everyone always ask y I am finding them homes) so here goes (this is in responce to an add I posted trying to find them a home)

   there are 2 people that have written so far but one sounds better as I have gotten more info from her.

she is 24 use to own rabbits (probly when she was a kid), they died of old age. She has 3 cats & a mouse, the rabbits would have the downstairs run of the place (which sounded great to me) , actually sounded excited about them which i was happy with (there had been someone not to long ago that just didn’t seem excited enough to me and a few other things that made me decide not to give them to her).

 the other person that sounded good hasn’t given me to much, and I don’t know if it just the fast responces from the other person or that they were more then willing to give info and make arrangements. I feel I have been pretty intuitive about this so far as there has been 3-4 people I had talked with previously and i just didn’t feel comfortable with or it was a common sence flat out No!

[Beka27]

are you able to meet them at their homes to see the set-up for the rabbits?

[Scarlet_Rose]

I would ask a few questions about rabbit care (ones you know the fool-proof answer to) like if nuts, seeds and human junk food like chocolate and Doritos are O.K. for a rabbit.  I think I would also throw in a copy of the House Rabbit Handbook or a few print outs from here or another rabbit rescue on care and veggies.

The one with the basement sounds promising, I would ask about rabbit proofing.  They sound quite forthright and honest and that’s a good thing!

[5cats1bun]

I actually made a point to mention the food thing as she said she was gonna go pick some up (I said no nuts or seeds!!!).  I don’t think it’s a basement but an actual downstairs of the home. She gave me her number so I will probly talk with her on the phone tomorrow. I do have a copy of the house rabbit book so maybe I will give her that. Any other questions you folks think I should ask. She also made appoint to say no questions asked they will be indoors only. (I wouldn’t let them go to an outdoor home). They will have the giant NIC cage going with them as well and she seemed pleased about that. I think if this actually work I will be able to work on rocky and craisin bonding cuz they seem to do ok sometimes.

[Scarlet_Rose]

That sounds like a great plan! I would say pick out a few things to ask and be sure to give them a vet referral too and not be shy about contacting you with any questions about care etc. if you decide to go ahead with letting her have them.

[JK]

I guess you just have to go with your gut feeling.  How does the 24 yr old. act with the rabbits and vice versa? And don’t forget to mention this great website so she or whoever you give them to knows there is somewhere to get a lot of good information!  Good luck.

[Sarita]

Yes ask for a vet referal and ask for a home check (if they refuse I am always suspicious).

Also ask what will happen to the rabbits if they have any life changes – move, marriage, children, divorce, etc…

Ask her what reasons she would consider to ask you to take the rabbit back if any.

Also ask if she realizes the cost for vet bills for rabbits as opposed to cats and dogs.

Does she or anyone in the household have any allergies to rabbits or hay?

Who will care for the rabbits when she is on vacation?

[Sarita]

After you make a decision you need to do up an adoption contract stating that they will keep the rabbits as a pet and keep them together since they are bonded. You need to state in the contract that they are INDOOR RABBITS only – don’t be afraid to have them initial specific parts (indoor and together). Also you need to let her know that if it doesn’t work out that she needs to contact you about what to do with the rabbits (will you take them back? if it doesn’t work out). And to contact you with any questions or concerns.

I recommend a follow up email in a week and then in a month a follow up phone call as well.

[MooBunnay]

Hello Amy – I will send you a copy of an adoption contract I used at the rescue I worked at previously, maybe you can get some ideas from that. Also, I think home checks are a great idea if you have the opportunity – a good way to phrase a “home check” so that people don’t get nervous is just say “I prefer to bring the rabbits over to your house to meet you so that you can see how they act in your environment, and so that you can get an idea of how they will fit into your home.” That way, it doesn’t sound like you are “evaluating” them (even though you will be!). Also, I have adopted several times to people with the teeny “poket” pets like mice, and they have always been the nicest people. I think maybe its the fact that they have the character of a person that even cares about a tiny mouse

[MooBunnay]

…can’t find my soft copy of the application, but here is a good site for information: http://www.bunnybunch.com/shelterfostermain.html

It is the adoption page of the Bunny Bunch – I have always been impressed by their thorough evaluation of potential adopters, so I think that checking out their adoption application would be a great way to see what kinds of questions you should consider.

Good luck!

[Sarita]

The questions I posted are some from the North Texas Sanctuary Adoption App – it’s very thorough too. Some people get offended with the questions, but those are the people who we wouldn’t adopt too because they just don’t get it :~)

When I had my foster group I always brought the rabbit to the new home to make sure they had everything – that was my homecheck with them. I felt good seeing where my foster’s where going.

[Beka27]

MooBunnay… i liked what you said about "the character of a person that even cares about a tiny mouse".  i have definitely found that there are people who think the only "real" pets are cats and dogs.  those are the same people who automatically dismiss the fact that i have (and love) a rabbit.  it takes a different kinda person to see the value in a smaller animal.  that is definitely the kind of person i would want to adopt to.

[5cats1bun]

oh wow! Thank you so much everyone! Will def use these guide lines! I just sent the application to the other person as well, and tried calling the other girl. Wasn’t impressed with her voice message, for you who have done rescues, has it ever just turned you off hearing the person’s voice or how they speak? I really should talk to the people first before making judgement over the phone or even online!

[MooBunnay]

I would say that your gut instincts are definitely valid and you should take into account, but I wouldn’t necessarily write someone off immediately just because of that. I would probably question them and me more thorough and definitely do a homecheck in that case, but it is possible there are some extenuating circumstances that make them more stand-offish. One of my best examples is I had a boss that used to write these short emails that came off quite rude, but he was the nicest guy. One day I figured out that he didn’t know how to type and used the “hunt and peck” method which resulted in very short sentences with no extra “nice” salutations or endings, which is why they seemed so rude! I adopted to another lady who was a verrry nervous adopter, and made me nervous because she got so nervous, but she ended up beinga fantastic adopter that looooves her bunnies and takes excellent care of them, I think you will know more once you meet them in person or have a phone conversation with them.

[Sarita]

I agree with MooBunnay. I may not like how the person sounds on the phone – in fact they may not like the way I sound on the phone either but I know that it is really more than how a person sounds than who they are and how well they will take care of their pets. I know I don’t particularly like the way I sound on the phone – I think I sound weird.

I agree to about emails – very hard to really tell how they are – emails are one of those tools that are nice but sometimes people come off just wrong even though they are just right. Things can just be too easily misinterpreted.

[5cats1bun]

very intresting…suddenly I’m not hearing from either of these people….hmmmm……my bf says i should just give up as he knows how much I love this pair (unles something kinda of falls into my hands which is unlikely) with that said I would try to maybe rehome Craisin but I feel him & rocky will work out and they both seem to want to be with another bunny judging by reactions with eachother. sigh….another rant is seems…..whatever is to be will be I guess….

[JK]

Mmmm that’s kind of a tell tale sign then!  If I really wanted a bunny I would be calling like crazy! The right person will come along and you once again need to trust your gut.  Women are very good at intuition!

[Sarita]

Well…I don’t think I would take that as a sign they aren’t interested. As with everyone sometimes people get busy or something comes us. Or it could be that they are doing more research or trying to get supplies together for the rabbit. Actually sometimes you want someone who is not too anxious…it can mean they are being impulsive – obviously that is a generalization but just wait to see if they contact you back within a reasonable amount of time.

[5cats1bun]

I know it’s just the one girl was emailing my right after I wrote and then I sent the "application" and the other person I think disapeared! The bonding is going well with Crasin & Rocky, I had them running around for about 40 minutes together. there seemed like minor fighting (circling some of the time) but lots of binkies and asking to groom eachother! So they would end up just cudleing they’re heads!I’m thinking I just want to make Wilbur & Mimzie a giant new cage. I feel like I could make it work with them, we’ll see , I just feel doubtful about the new responded people. Also I know a lot of us are young on here, but I always worry about people my age and younger taking them (I’m almost 25) is that strange?

[BinkyBunny]

I think you have received excellent advice! I have really learned that first impressions don’t tell me at all about the depth of a person. I mean, there is that gut instinct that I can feel sometimes a "warning", but even if I am turned off by someone for some minor reason, (personality wise) I just wait it out, and later on I could be amazed to find a great connection. So even the polite person that gives you a great first impression, can sometimes fake it, and at the same time a more rough around the edges person, might at first make you take a step back, could end up being the most caring responsible person of all, but there is no way for you to "wait it out" and get to really know these people , so I think asking them some rabbit care questions and having them fill out an application has been the smart way to go.

Let people talk too. Ask them questions, and make sure to let them gab gab gab, so they can reveal the little things that are big whammys.

If they dont’ call you back or want to go through it, then they aren’t the person for your bunnies. The person that will go through all of that will feel a connection strong enough, and take this seriously. It may turn some off, but at least your bunnies will have the best chance at someone that REALLY wants them.

[Beka27]

Amy, i don’t think you’re way off with your comment about age.  i’m 24 too, but i’ve always been more mature than my friends and other people my age (having a baby at 19 contributes to that as well.  lol…)  i think that by about our age folks begin to realize the way their life is going, and they should be able to make a 10-year commitment.  talking with them also gives you an idea of how committed they are or will be, or if they seem really flighty…  can you give them a phone call to see if they’re still interested?

[5cats1bun]

Well folks it’s a no go….tried calling the one girl that i had her number and the other person also didn’t respond, haven’t heard a thing. sigh….I’m never gonna be able to let these buns go….

[Scarlet_Rose]

Amy, I would say that these people backing off after you sent an application is a sign that they are not the right people. Big giant red flags go up in my opinion and maybe they are looking it over too and giving it more serious thought or it was an "impulse" and now are realizing that this is not something to be taken lightly. Wait a while and see.

[Sarita]

Amy, this happens quite a bit – don’t be discouraged, they aren’t the right people if they aren’t willing to answer your questions or fill out an application. This happens alot at the sanctuary I help at – we send apps and they don’t reply however, many times we send apps, people reply, etc…I would say we get back about 50% of the applications we send out.

You are actually learning a huge deal about how it would be like if you decided to start a rescue.

Also in the future if you get an email inquiry, I would send them to the House Rabbit Society website and encourage them to read about what to expect with a rabbit – behavior, care, etc…rescuing is as much about educating adopters as is it about the actual adoption. Sometimes people do the research and realize it’s more work than they anticipated and it’s better that they know that before they make a commitment.

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